Postharvest Pathogens and Disease Management
Chapter One
INTRODUCTION
Nature has blessed mankind and other living organisms by providing a wide
range of plant products for our consumption. However, human beings, in their
desire to domesticate plants to satisfy their need for food, feed, fiber, timber,
and other plant products, have selected plants with high yield potential. Unfortunately,
most of the plant species and crop cultivars with high yield potential
became increasingly susceptible to diseases and pests that can cause severe
epidemics and food famines. Diseases caused by microbial pathogens - fungi,
bacteria, and viruses - account for substantial losses of grains, fruits, and vegetables
at both pre- and postharvest stages of crop production. Stakman and
Harrar (1957) emphasized that "the responsibilities of the plant pathologists
do not end with the harvest of satisfactory yields of plant products and that
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